Texas Tech University Athletics
Football
Cole Maxwell
- Title:
- Defensive Graduate Assistant
Cole Maxwell enters his fourth season on the Texas Tech coaching staff as he serves as a defensive assistant working specifically with the defensive line.
Maxwell has already been part of three bowl appearances with the Red Raiders, who are coming off a historic 2025 season that featured the school’s first Big 12 title and appearance in the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech’s success started up front as the Red Raiders were among the country’s most-dominant units, ranking first in the FBS for both takeaways and rushing defense and third for scoring and total defense. The Red Raiders gave up only 11.8 points per game en route to a school record 12 wins, all by at least 20 points.
Backed by two future NFL Draft picks in Lee Hunter (second round, Carolina Panthers) and Skyler Gill-Howard (sixth round, Detroit Lions), the Red Raiders recorded the largest year-by-year improvement for both scoring (-23.0) and total yards allowed per game (-203.2) by any FBS program since 2000. Hunter and fellow defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. both earned second team All-America honors, giving Texas Tech four total selections on the defensive side of the ball.
The Red Raiders gave up only 26.0 points per game during Maxwell’s first season on staff, their lowest at the time since 2009, behind the consistent play in the middle from Tony Bradford Jr. and Jaylon Hutchings. Both seniors earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades en route to pushing Texas Tech to a 5-4 record in Big 12 play and a victory over Cal in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl. The Red Raiders finished 8-5 during Maxwell’s second season following an appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
The 2023 season marked Maxwell’s first in a coaching position following a successful playing career at Baylor where he played under head coach Joey McGuire. Maxwell started in 19 games along the defensive line for the Bears, helping push Baylor to a Big 12 title in 2021 and a victory in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Baylor also made a Big 12 Championship appearance during his 2019 sophomore campaign, which was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
For his career, Maxwell totaled 48 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while also adding a forced fumble and three pass breakups. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2021 after making 27 stops and 1.5 sacks over 13 starts. Maxwell had three tackles in both the Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State as well as the victory versus Ole Miss in the AllState Sugar Bowl, which also featured his first-career solo sack.
Maxwell signed with Baylor as part of the first signing class to ink with then head coach Matt Rhule, a staff that also featured McGuire as one of its first members. He was previously an All-State defensive lineman out of Allen High School where he was the District 6-6A Defensive MVP as a senior in 2016. Allen finished 14-1 that season, falling in the Class 6A Division I state semifinals.
Maxwell earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor in 2022 prior to his hiring at Texas Tech.
Maxwell has already been part of three bowl appearances with the Red Raiders, who are coming off a historic 2025 season that featured the school’s first Big 12 title and appearance in the College Football Playoff. Texas Tech’s success started up front as the Red Raiders were among the country’s most-dominant units, ranking first in the FBS for both takeaways and rushing defense and third for scoring and total defense. The Red Raiders gave up only 11.8 points per game en route to a school record 12 wins, all by at least 20 points.
Backed by two future NFL Draft picks in Lee Hunter (second round, Carolina Panthers) and Skyler Gill-Howard (sixth round, Detroit Lions), the Red Raiders recorded the largest year-by-year improvement for both scoring (-23.0) and total yards allowed per game (-203.2) by any FBS program since 2000. Hunter and fellow defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. both earned second team All-America honors, giving Texas Tech four total selections on the defensive side of the ball.
The Red Raiders gave up only 26.0 points per game during Maxwell’s first season on staff, their lowest at the time since 2009, behind the consistent play in the middle from Tony Bradford Jr. and Jaylon Hutchings. Both seniors earned honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades en route to pushing Texas Tech to a 5-4 record in Big 12 play and a victory over Cal in the Radiant Technologies Independence Bowl. The Red Raiders finished 8-5 during Maxwell’s second season following an appearance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
The 2023 season marked Maxwell’s first in a coaching position following a successful playing career at Baylor where he played under head coach Joey McGuire. Maxwell started in 19 games along the defensive line for the Bears, helping push Baylor to a Big 12 title in 2021 and a victory in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Baylor also made a Big 12 Championship appearance during his 2019 sophomore campaign, which was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
For his career, Maxwell totaled 48 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while also adding a forced fumble and three pass breakups. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2021 after making 27 stops and 1.5 sacks over 13 starts. Maxwell had three tackles in both the Big 12 Championship win over Oklahoma State as well as the victory versus Ole Miss in the AllState Sugar Bowl, which also featured his first-career solo sack.
Maxwell signed with Baylor as part of the first signing class to ink with then head coach Matt Rhule, a staff that also featured McGuire as one of its first members. He was previously an All-State defensive lineman out of Allen High School where he was the District 6-6A Defensive MVP as a senior in 2016. Allen finished 14-1 that season, falling in the Class 6A Division I state semifinals.
Maxwell earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Baylor in 2022 prior to his hiring at Texas Tech.
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